Knob-billed Duck
EN

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

UnknownENNP

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knob-billed_duck

Overview

The knob-billed duck or African comb duck is a type of duck found along the tropical/sub-tropical wetlands and waterways of Sub-Saharan Africa and the island of Madagascar, as well as most of South Asia and mainland Indochina.

The Knob-billed Duck faces severe population declines primarily due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural expansion and wetland drainage across its range. Hunting pressure and human disturbance at breeding and roosting sites further compound these threats, while climate change increasingly affects water availability in critical wetland habitats.

Threat summary

Habitat

It breeds in still freshwater swamps and lakes in the tropics. It is largely resident, apart from dispersion in the wet season.

This duck feeds on vegetation by grazing or dabbling and to a lesser extent on small fish, invertebrates, and seeds. It can become a problem to rice farmers. Knob-billed ducks often perch in trees. They are typically seen in flocks, small in the wet season, up to 100 in...

FRESHWATER· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorFRESHWATER· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Knob-billed Duck classified as Endangered?
Knob-billed Duck is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Knob-billed Duck faces severe population declines primarily due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural expansion and wetland drainage across its range. Hunting pressure and human disturbance at breeding and roosting sites further compound these threats, while climate change increasingly affects water availability in critical wetland habitats.
Where does Knob-billed Duck live?
Knob-billed Duck occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Knob-billed Duck?
The main threats to Knob-billed Duck are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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